Retaining means for flexible tubes



Feb. 16, 1954 B. FISHERv RETAINING MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE rTUBES Fiied Nov. 15, 1952 INVENToR. BERNARD FISHER ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1954 BETAINING MEANS FOR .TUBES BernardFisher, Philadelphia: Ea.

'ApplicationNovember 13, 19'52;-Serial N o-"320i2`27 acclaim. u (ci. 12s-.214)

`This invention relates to a retaining oranchor meansfor-a tube to be retained on ai human or animal body fordrainage orotherfpurposes. More specically, thevinvention relates Afto 'a iiexible and adustable cuif for securely and removablyretaining a flexibledrainage tube on any part of a humanor animal body.

Further detailsl and advantages of myinvention'will be apparent from the following specifi*- cation andappended drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an anchor construction in use for retaining a flexible tube inpositionona human arm for drainage purposes,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the anchor inflat open condition,

Figure -3 is-an en dyiew ofthe construction shown lin Figure and Figurey 4 Vis an endl view of a modified construction of my anchor in flat open condition.

'Referring to the ldrawings; the anchor' construction consists ofy az flexible pliable'- base strip Illmade, for example, of Wovenr cotton fabric of;suitable length vand coated witha layer of suitable adhesivev II, such asl a tacky vrubber cement on one entiresurface thereof. 4The ends 5 and AIi of the base strip I0 are doubled back and foldec'lover so as to' bring the adhesive II into adherentyfacecontact, as shown vin Figure `2, thereby providing reinforced tWo-ply-ends for the strip I0. The-medial portion ofthe strip' 'ID is alsofoldedoutwardly Ain a re-entrant fold to bring the adhesive -I I "into face contact; 5thereby forming a reinforced extending tab I9. The -re inforcedA ends 5 and 6' ci the strip are-provided `with a plurality of v.spaced perforations 12' "which may be reinforced with metal eyelets lI3 for receiving, a. fastening. string'or gear I4. "TabilS is also perforated at I5 adjacent its end and may be reinforced with` a metal eyelet .I 4 for receiving a fastening string or gear 'I1 as shown in Figure 1. A pad 20 of resilient material, such as sponge rubber or felt, is retained by adhesive Il on the base strip I0. Pad 2) is preferably of the same width as the strip I0 and of a length to extend for about one-third of the medial portion of the base strip I0 as shown in Figure 2.

In using my anchor construction as described, the tab portion I9 is first located in place at any desired location, say on arm St, by means of fastening string or tape I6 passing through the eyelet in tab I9. If desired, the string may be attached to a suitable adjustable gear carried on the adjacent body portion (not shown). The size and shape of this gear will vary with the site atwhich=it-is to-be used 'depending whether on-an adult orinfantfand -at nasal,` oral, abdommal, 'renali or-genita-l regionpetc After the anohoris -located and is preferably fastened directly to.` arm 30 by string I6, as shown in Figure 1 afflex-ible rubber tube 125 `which is tobe securely retainedl-at'the desired location on the arm 30 lis first placed on the middle portion ofthe yieldable pad-20.

y'Y-The anchor is then `folded to bring the free ends 5v andi-together in'facefto face rela-tion in the manner shown irrFigure l, whereby the pad 20 will also: be folded over on itself and thus frictionallyflembrace "the :tube 25 about its outer periphery under slightl compression, but without restricting-or. closing oi the interior tube 'channel or lumen to preventflow of iiuid therethrough. The free superimposed ends-5 and 6 of the anchor are ythen fastened together by passing a string I1 through a suitable opposedpair of openings I`2- and tying the endsofsame `to string I6 in a bow *knot I8;` as shown in Figure 1, or to a suitable gearcarried bythe body.

vWhenever K'itis desired -to move the tube 25 the ends "Seand 6' aresmerely loosened by untying string I1. -IThis're'lieves the frictional engagement=of-pad 20 onthe' outer vperiphery of tube 25 ,sufliciently'to permit-moving the tube a sufficient length'inthedesiredldirec-tion and location.

It will be obvious that the rubber tube- 25 can be securely retained at any desired location of a humanv-oranimal body. 1 The tube may be fastened atany-irregularcontour such as adjacent the 'human mouthlfor insertion through the mouthin'to ithe stomach and can be readily released candv movedatdesired intervals further intothe =stomach=withoutf any discomfort to the patient orstripping of adhesive bandages and the likevasiinrprorpractice. The tube 25 maybe retained -f at any s other desired' -location of the body for drainage therefrom or feedingliquids thereinto without cumbersome fastening gear or adhesive tape in common use previously. All adhesive contacts with the patient are thusavoided with elimination of skin irritation or allergic reactions which often occur due to pro longed contact of adhesive tape. The tube 25 may be easily and rapidly moved in or out of location. My anchor eliminates the use of adhesive tape previously used for fastening the tube in place, thereby eliminating adhesive contact between the tube and material fixing it in place, thereby obviating the need for cleaning the surface of the tube before vmovement thereof.

The dimensions of my retaining anchor may rods, implements, tools and the like.

vary with the site and size of tube or other article which it is desired to retain. The size may be varied for infant or adult use or for use on the nasal region, abdominal, genital or limbs and also for animal use.

The construction of my anchor may be varied in numerous ways. For example, it may be made of two similar strips 3l and 32 made of suitable fabric, the mating ends 3|a and 32a thereof being folded outwardly and united by adhesive 33 to form an outwardly extending tab 35. The tab is provided with an opening 36 which may be reinforced with a metal eyelet 31 for receiving fastening gear. The free ends of the strips 3| and 32 are provided with a plurality of spaced openings 38 which may be reinforced with metal eyelets 39 for receiving fastening gear. A sponge rubber pad 20 is adhered to the medial portion of the combined strips by suitable adhesive 33.

The free ends of rny anchor construction instead of being provided With openings for receiving fastening mea-ns, such as string or tape,

may be provided with spaced -snap fasteners so that the ends may be retained in fastened condition by the snap fasteners in such position as to provide the requisite pressure and friction of the folded pad 20 on the tube 25 frictionally retained thereby.

The base strip Ill may be made of any flexible material, such as woven cotton, canvas, rayon, nylon and the like. It may also be made of strong paper such as kraft or parchment or paper reinforced with threads or gauze. Suitable synthetic films such as cellulose acetate, rubber hydrochloride, regenerated cellulose-and the like may be used for the base strip. The resilient pad Zil may be made of sponge rubber, cellulose sponge, cotton, felt, mineral wool and the like. The pad 20 serves to act as a cushion and as a grip for frictionally engaging the outer surface of the article to be retained thereby. It is to be understood that although my anchor device is especially adapted for retaining flexible tubes, it may also be used for retaining rigidtubes of glass or metal or for retaining solidarticles such as The free ends of the anchor may be held together by any suitable mechanical means if desired such as spring fasteners or clamps in place of the string or tape.

I claim:

l. An anchor construction for removably retaining a flexible tube without constricting same comprising a flexible base strip, the medial portion of said strip being folded outwardly to form an extending tab portion, a yieldable pad carried by said base strip, the free ends of said strip being foldable into face to face relation whereby said yieldable pad is folded on itself for frictionally engaging and releasably retaining a flexible tube therebetween.

2. An anchor construction for removably retaining a flexible tube without constricting same comprising a flexible base strip, the medial portion of said strip being folded outwardly to form an extending tab portion, a yieldable pad of sponge rubber carried by said base strip, the free ends of said strip being foldable into face to face relation whereby said yieldable pad is folded on itself for frictionally engaging and releasably retaining a flexible tube therebetween.

3. An anchor construction for removably retaining a flexible tube without constricting same comprising a flexible base strip, the medial portion of said strip being folded outwardly to form an extending tab portion, a yieldable pad secured whereby said yieldable pad is folded on itself for frictionally engaging and releasably retaining a flexible tube therebetween.

4. An anchor construction' for removably retaining a flexible tube without constricting same comprising a flexible base strip, the medial portion of said strip being folded outwardly to form an extending tab portion, a yieldable pad of sponge rubber secured by adhesive to said base strip, the free ends of said strip being foldable into face to face relation whereby said yieldable pad is folded on itself for frictionally engaging and releasably retaining a flexible tube therebetween.

5. An anchor construction as dened in claim 1 wherein the tab portion and free ends are provided with perforations for receiving fastening gear.

6. An anchor construction for removably vretaining a flexible tube Without constricting same comprising a flexible base strip, the ends of said` strip being doubled back and folded over to provide reinforced plural-ply ends, the medial por tion of said strip being folded outwardly to form an extending tab portion, a yieldable pad carried by said base strip, the free ends of said strip being foldable into face to face relation whereby said yieldable pad is folded on itself for frictionally engaging and releasably retaining a flexible tube therebetween.

7. An anchor construction as defined in claim 6 wherein the base strip is coated with adhesive on the entire face of one side thereof, the folded ends of said strip and the medial outward fold being adhered by said adhesive, and the yieldable pad retained on said base strip by said adhesive.

8. An anchor construction as defined in claim 6 wherein the pad portion is of the same width as the width of the base strip and of a length to extend at the medial portion of the base strip for` about one-third its length.

BERNARD FISHER.

No references cited. 

